Those who used the internet first time were shown to be more likely to reach for it again. In fact, they were not only more likely to use it, but were much quicker to choose it as the first resort than the memory group.

Remarkably 30% of participants who previously consulted the internet could not answer a single question form memory during the testing period.

Lead author Dr Benjamin Storm says that this suggests that a certain method for fact finding has a marked influence on the probability of repeat behaviour by the brain in the future.

Dr Storm said: “Memory is changing. Our research shows that as we use the Internet to support and extend our memory we become more reliant on it. Whereas before we might have tried to recall something on our own, now we don’t bother.”

8 Easy Ways to Improve Your Memory

8 Easy Ways to Improve Your Memory

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